Performance Investigation of a Nanofluid-Based Parabolic Trough Solar Collector

Abstract

The present study is performed with the aim to investigate the simple methods of performance enhancement of parabolic trough collector (PTC). Nanofluid proposes exclusive advantages over conventional fluids due to their unique physical properties. In this manuscript, the thermal performance of PTC integrated with the storage tank is investigated experimentally using 0.0 and 0.1 wt% nanofluids based on the multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) particles. A nanofluid based on the MWCNT particles using triple deionized water as a base fluid is prepared and used as the working fluid in addition to the water for performance investigation. The performance has been evaluated in terms of useful heat gain, collector thermal efficiency, rise in water temperature within the storage tank, charging, and overall efficiency of system. Experimental results showed that the performance of the collector is improved using nanofluid as a working fluid in comparison to the water and average gain in thermal efficiency is achieved to be about 3% higher with nanofluid. The maximum charging efficiency of the system is found to be 62 and 59% with MWCNT nanofluid and water, respectively.